Lowell veterans leader urges NFL boycott in Fox appearance

For months, John MacDonald shared his sentiments about the National Football League protests with veterans and their families. But on Sunday morning, he had the chance to offer his perspective to a nationwide audience on Fox & Friends.

MacDonald, a veteran of the Air Force who serves on the board of directors for Veterans Assisting Veterans, a Lowell-based nonprofit organization, also joined Sunday with other veterans groups at the VFW Mottola Post in Revere for an event to boycott the NFL.

"It's a sacred moment of which we take that time and honor the people that we served with. We honor the sacrifice that they made," MacDonald said. "I know some of the NFL players are kneeling because they've been oppressed.

They need to understand that veterans have served, and veterans like myself have fought against oppression."

When San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first refused to stand during the national anthem last year, both critics and supporters weighed in on what kind of message that sent.

Although Kaepernick has since stopped his protest, he has inspired many other NFL players to take a knee during the anthem, protesting racial injustices and oppression in the United States. As more players take a knee, many, angered and offended by the action, have decided to use time they would have spent watching NFL games in other ways.

MacDonald said it was particularly upsetting to see New England Patriots players take a knee during the anthem.

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He has been a lifelong Patriots fan, but said his respect for the American flag and the anthem surpasses that. Until the NFL makes a policy change, MacDonald said his boycott will continue.

Many veterans have come out in support of the protests started by Kaepernick by using the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick, saying that they fought for people's rights and not for a song. They, and others, have also said the reason behind the protest was not about U.S. veterans. However, those who disapprove of the protests are helping to negatively impact NFL viewership, according to recent numbers.

Seton Hall University in New Jersey released poll results from NFL fans in October. The poll found that 30 percent of those who identified themselves as NFL fans reported that they were watching fewer NFL games this season. Fifty-two percent of those people said their reason for watching fewer games stemmed from the NFL protests. Forty-five percent of respondents also said they disagreed with the protests, while 38 percent said they agreed with it.

Earlier this month, Sporting News also reported that compared to the average number of viewers during the first half of the 2016 NFL season, the average number of viewers for the first eight weeks of this season is down by 5 percent.

"I think if the NFL keeps its current stance about pretty much ignoring the issues, if they allow this type of activity to go on, I think they'll just lose more viewers and I think they'd lose more and more sponsors," MacDonald said.

MacDonald said if it were up to him, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would be fired for a lack of leadership.

At Sunday's event in Revere, MacDonald said veterans, Gold Star families and members of about six other veterans organizations came together to speak out against the protest. MacDonald said leading up to this event, he has been in touch with many people who have been angered all season by the protests. As a veteran, board member of Veterans Assisting Veterans and a Republican candidate for the First Middlesex state Senate seat, MacDonald said he felt the need to speak on the issue.

"It's their right to peacefully protest, but every color and creed has fought under this flag, and every color and creed deserves that respect," he said. "I hope that people, as much as they might enjoy the Patriots -- because I do -- I hope that they consider what veterans are speaking out about."

Follow Kori Tuitt on Twitter @KoriTuitt.

San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold, center kneeling, and safety Eric Reid, right kneeling, join their teammates during the national anthem before their game against the Arizona Cardinals Nov. 5 in Santa Clara, Calif.
AP FILE PHOTO

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